Nottingham sister agencies ready for nationwide expansion
Two Nottingham sister agencies are set embark on a national expansion plan, and are ready to open offices in London and Manchester later this year.
Roller Agency, which is a user-experience and software development agency specialising in mobile and AI platforms for the beauty tech and other industries, and Laced a new beauty and fashion incubator hub, are both based in the OldKnows Factory in Nottingham city centre, but have revealed plans to spread their wings together.
Roller Agency was set up by self-confessed tech addict Martin Sandhu in 2009 and has grown to employ 23 people, while Laced has been set up by Roller’s head of marketing Natalie Moores. It aims to launch its website in April.
Now, the firms are working in tandem to expand beyond Nottingham.
Moores said: “I’ve always wanted to set up a business like Laced through which we can develop local businesses from start-up to investment on an eight-week course. We have a great pool of influencers and bloggers in Nottingham, and we want to be able to help and educate them to build themselves into businesses.”
“No-one is doing what we’re doing in Nottingham,” added Sandhu. “We can offer the full package of high-end software development, through to branding, digital, PR.
“We’re hoping to expand the Roller team up to 30 people by the end of 2018, and at the same time open offices in London and Manchester.”
Moores added: “With Laced we’re passionate about giving a start-ups a chance. Everyone wants to be an entrepreneur these days, and we want to build a door that they can knock down.”
Sandhu said: “By building these two businesses together we can offer the full service to customers – and we’re looking to work with a lot more start-ups, as well as our more established client base.”
Roller has been busy compiling its Roller Trends report – and at over 300 pages, it’s a comprehensive insight into the retail landscape in London, Paris, Berlin, New York, Birmingham, Manchester – and Nottingham.
TheBusinessDesk.com asked Moores and Sandhu what they’d like to see in the new Broadmarsh development in Nottingham.
Moores said: “Pop-ups are bigger than ever before, and the Broadmarsh should look at getting some big brands in as pop-ups. The city is also crying out for a new, large department store. Operators now need to be creative and take a chance. We hope the owners of the Broadmarsh don’t miss this opportunity.”
